In my family history story, Jay's story, and Crystal's story, there are similar in that all our families faced troubles and had to overcome them. Although all these troubles are different in big ways, I realized that in nearly every family story, a parent or a family member had to withstand many hardships.
     In Jay's story, his mother is very successful, but in some ways, she realizes that she has to work hard and the despite all her work, she has to work even harder in order to reach the 1st place she wants to get.

"One day, there was a competition or a test between all of the people in her school district. It was somewhat like an Advanced Placement test, as it was only for people that had a certain class placement, which were the “high achievers” at the school, and the test had everyone in the Chinese equivalent of a school district taking it. "

 Jay's mother is successful in that she was able to place so high and was honored with opportunity, but when she takes the test, she only scores 60 percent, still gaining 2nd place. This score serves as an obstacle she must overcome. Even though she was able to get 2nd place with this low percentage, she knows she could do better.
    Crystal's story is much different from Jay's. In her story, her grandparents took a huge risk in trying to help others in their family and their lives were put on the line for this cause.

"She had been to preoccupied with hiding the food that she did not notice a Japanese soldier, or as they called it a soldier of the Imperial Army, had seen her grandmother's attempt to hide the food. As to why she had to hide the food, it was because Japanese soldiers were looting and stealing supplies and food where ever they saw it available. It was part of the policy that the Japanese government decided to implement upon all the nations that it invaded."

Crystal's great great grandma and grandma took a huge risk in trying to to save themselves from starvation. Her great great grandmother was abused by a Japanese solider and took the risk of hiding food for the sake of the survival of her family.
     My mother was forced to overcome her parents and their unwillingness to help her to a better future. She was forced to do things on her own and become more independent than ever.